Toothbrush



Nov. 5, 1929. c. B. HANOVER TOOTHBRUSH Filed Jan. 16, 1928 C fiat 27L2401f l/AELEJ' ANOVEA" F766 47' ToArA/EKr' Patented Nov. 5, 1929 PATENTOFFICE CHARLES B. HANOVER, or SPOKANE, WASHINGTON TOOTHBRUSH Applicationfiled January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,101.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tooth brushes,and an object is to provide a sanitary tooth brush which may bemanufactured at a very low cost so that after it has been used once ortwice, 1t may, if desired, be thrown away and a new brush used the nexttime. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a tooth brushconstructed of a fibrous 11 material such, for example, as wood or paperpulp/the brush comprising a body and handle integrally formed of sheetmaterial, and thebodyhaving'a plurality of fibrous protuberances of likematerial, suitably mounted therein.

A further object is to provide a sanitary tooth brush comprising a bodyhaving a bandle portion integrally formed therewith and suitablyreinforced to prevent bending, and

the entire brush, including the protuberances being constructed of afibrous material such as paper pulp. i

The particular object of the invention therefore is to provide asanitary brush constructedentirely of fibrous paper pulp material. 4

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings,'there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing one method of securing theprotuberances to the body;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2, showingthe means for reinforcing the handle;

' Figure 5 is a view showing a modified form of dsecuring theprotuberances to the body; an

Figure 6 is a modification showing another method of securing theprotuberances to the brush body.

The novel brush featured in this invention comprises a body 2 having ahandle portion 3 integrally formed therewith and preferablylongitudinally recessed or ribbed as indicated at 4, to suitablyreinforce the handle so that it will withstand moderately rough usage.

A plurality of protuberances 5 are mounted in the body 2 and projectoutwardly therefrom as shown in Figure 1. In Figure 3, I have shown theprotuberances made in the form of staples and inserted through aperturesprovided in the brush body. The pro-' tuberances are preferably mountedin the brush body while the material from which the latter is made is ina moist condition, so that they may readily be inserted through theapertures provided therein, as shown in Figure 3. The upper horizontalconnections 6 of the protuberances may then be pressed into the uppersurface of the body 2 to render the back of the brush comparativelysmooth when finished. I have found from actual experience that when theprotuberanc'es are thus mounted in the back 2, while the material fromwhich the two parts are constructed its still more or less moist, thenwhen the brush is thoroughly dried, as when completed, the protuberanceswill besecured in the back so that they cannot accidentally becomedisengaged therefrom.

In Figure .l', I have shown the handle 3 longitudinally recessed inorder to reinforce it. In the drawing, I have shown the handle recessedfrom the top or back of the brush, but it is to be understood, ofcourse, that the handle may be recessed from the opposite side withequal results.

Figure 5 illustrates a modifiedform of securing the protuberances 7 tothe back 2. As here shown, the material from which the protuberances aremade is formed to provide, folded-over portions or legs 8 which areadapted to be inserted into apertures provided in the brush back. Aconnection 9 connects together the portions 8 of the protuber ances. Inthe form here shown, the protuberan es are inserted from the face orfront side of the back 2, while in Figure 3, the protuberances areinserted into the body from the back thereof.

Figure 6 illustrates another method of mounting the protuberances in thebody 2. in the form here shown, the protuberances are in the form oftapered points driven into the body 2 from the backof the brush.

The important feature in this invention, as before stated, is to providea brush constructed entirely of paper pulp or a similar fibrousmaterial. The brush is preferably constructed of fibrous sheet materialwhich may be conveniently shaped and formed by suitable dies and pun hesso that the brush may be manufactured at a very low cost. I have alsofound that the protuberances may be manufactured and mounted in the body2 of the brush in a manner which will permit the entire brush to bemanufactured at a cost sufficiently low to permit it to be thrown awayeach time it has been used, and a new one substituted therefor each timethe teeth are cleaned.

The construction of the brush is such that it may conveniently be packedand sealed in individual air-tight cartons and dispensed in vendingmachines located in such places as hospitals, hotels, schools, trains,and various other places. The brushes are thus sealed in individualsealed cartons, the user may be assured that they will be absolutelysanitary and sterile, thus substantially eliminating all danger of mouthinfection, often caused by using ordinary tooth brushes having hairbristles.

T he paper or fiber tooth brush featured in this invention is primarilydesigned to be used but once, and will therefore be sterile beforeusage. After each using, it may be discarded and a new one used the nexttime, thus preventing the carrying of more bacteria into the mouth eachtime the teeth are brushed or cleaned. it is becoming well known amongauthorities on this subject that the use of the ordinary tooth brushdoes not prevent the spread of disease and germs in the mouth, butrather tends to increase the spreading of the bacteria.

The material from which this novel tooth brush is constructed isof suchconsistency that the protuberances or bristles will not soften in themouth with the average amount of use necessary forone cleaning so that,if

desired, the brush may be used two or three times, after which it shouldbe discardedand a new brush used the nexttime. It is desirable, however,that the brush be used only once, thereby avoiding thepossibility ofbacteria being carried into the mouth with the previously used brush, asit is known often results when a brush is used a second or third time,because of the fact that it is practically impossible to render anordinary bristle brush absolutely sterile, after it has once been used.

he type of tooth brush now commonly used is of such material that itcannot be thoroughly sterilized after usage without injuring thebristles and the supporting means therefor. Because the sanitary brushfeatured in this invention is used but once, or possibly twice, and thendiscarded, it, of course, does not need to be sterilized and, as aresult of a new brush being used each time the teeth are cleaned, thespreading of germs and disease in the mouth, which now often resultsfrom the use of the ordinary tooth brush, is practically prevented.

In the drawings, it will also be noted that the design of this novelbrush is very similar to that of an ordinary tooth brush. It isto beunderstood, however, that the general design of the brush, including theprotuberances may be varied in any manner desired withoutdeparting fromthe scope of the in \'S.-.i-l011.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tooth brush comprising a body portion and a handle portionintegrally formed fibrous sheet material, protuberances of norousmaterialsecured in said body portion, a lon itudinally extending rib insaid handle portion to strengthen the same against iateral pressure.

2. A toothbrush comprising a body portion and a handle formed integraltherewith, both the body portion and handle composed. of a fibrousmaterial, and the body portion provided with openings therethrough inwhich bristleprojections of fibrous material are fitted.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my h nd this 14th day ofJanuary, 1928.

CHARLES B. HANOVER.

